(2 of 6)
I think the article under TIME'S "Crime of the Week" May 22 [murder of Old Man Ridley] one of the most excellent pieces of writing I ever read.
MRS. W. W. LANDRUM
Russellville, Ky.
Balloonist Business Sirs:
In the current issue of TIME (May 29) under Aeronautics I was somewhat surprised at some of the statements. In the first place, if I stay on earth till June 6 I will have been here 63 years. I have been in the balloon business over 30 years. I have never filled a bag in ten minutes, and it takes more than $1.30 to inflate one of our bags. I have them from 60 ft. to 95 ft. The larger will carry two riders, usually a man and a woman. We have done all stunts mentioned and a great many others. Our "stove pipe" is a steel drum at least 24 in. in diameter. We frequently use an inflator. Also we seldom use poles any more. We use a gin pole in the inside till the bag is selfsupporting. We have put on a great many ascensions, playing large fairs and expositions. We played the Tennessee State Fair at Nashville three years ago. Have played in most States east of the Mississippi. Also some in the West and in Canada. Never had a serious accident except two drownings. These would not have happened had the riders not lost their belts— one was a lady. In her case a boat was there and caught the 'chute which did not get wet. The other time the operator was so close to shore a farmer pulled the 'chute out with a fence rail— a stick about 14 ft. long. I had a rider catch his 'chute on a cornice and swing into a lawyer's office window on the second floor, and the bag came down on the high tension wires which of course destroyed it and put several towns in darkness. I also had a lady rider come down on some high tension wires. Thought she might strike them so telephoned and had power shut off. She said it was "as easy as a spring bed.'' The city fireman rescued her from her high perch ... I wanted to correct the impression that the Bonettes are believed to be the only hot air balloonists now in the business. I arise to remark there are quite a few of us left. . . .
H. P. FRENCH
Muskegon, Mich.
Social Minded Cotton Executives
Sirs:
As a regular and enthusiastic subscriber of TIME I am a firm believer in the accuracy of its editorial content, but since its editors are human they may be expected to err—or to indulge their personal prejudices—occasionally.
The particular instance to which I have reference is the statement that the cotton textile industry is noted for (among other faults) "child labor," which appears in your May 22 issue, p. 49, "Cotton and Wages."
Through close personal contact with this industry and on the basis of 1930 census reports, I know that as far as Georgia cotton mills are concerned, the charge is incorrect and not supported by the facts.